Thread cutter



June 2, 1931. A. F. MIFFITT 1,307,745

THREAD CUTTER Filed Dec. 2. 1929 f/vvE/v TUF? ANTHU/VYEMFF/ 77' Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE ANTHONY F. MIFFITT, OF ROCKVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, 01E WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS THREAD CUTTER Application filed December 2, 1929. Serial No. 410,902.

This invention relates to thread cutters for weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this type mounted on a shuttl feeler and so arranged as to operate earlier in the cycle of the pick than the time allotted for the operation of the shuttle feeler.

In multicolor weft replenishing mechanisms it is customary to provide a shuttle feeler which is pivoted above and behind the lay to be depressed preparatory to transfer. If the shuttle is properlyboxed the back of the shuttle box will lift the feeler to reset the replenishing mechanism. It has been proposed heretofore to mount a cutter on a shuttle feeler of his type, such for instance, as shown in patent to Chevrette No. 1,662,235, but I find in certain instances that this style of cutter operates too late. to permit complete withdrawal of the trailing weft end which extends from the expelled bobbin. It is accordingly an important object of my present invention to provide an auxiliar operating device to engage some part of the lay comparatively early in the advance movement of the latter to cause operation of the cutter before the transfer of the fresh bobbin is completed.

The type of thread cutter referred to employs a clamp which retains the cut end to prevent the same from being Whipped into the shed. the cutter blade and clamp will tend normally to spring to open position, but as the cutter operates while the shuttle feeler is still down the clamp is closed. Subsequently the shuttle feeler and cutter move upwardly and finally are restored to normal position. It is an important object of my present invention to maintain the clamp in thread holding position during the upward movement of the shuttle feeler and until the 1atter has moved to a position where the operating rod shown in the Chevrette patent will will appear as the description proceeds, my

invention resides in' the combination and arlVhile the shuttle feeler is down rangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lower portion of the replenishing mechanism having my invention applied thereto, the same being viewed from the interior of the loom and certain parts being in section,

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the opposite side of the magazine with the frame of the latter removed and certain parts in section, the lay being shown in a rearward position and the cutter open preparatory to operation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the cutter closed by the lay while the shut tle feeler is still in depressed position, and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a part of the magazine showing on a reduced scale the parts whichnormally hold the shuttle feeler raised.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown a magazine frame having a transferrer arm 11 located above the lay L which has a box back 12. shuttle S will normally lie under the magazine when properly boxed so as to receive a full bobbin carrier not shown.

' A small stand 13 securedto the replenishingmechanism has a pair of studs 1a and 15 the former of whichhas secured thereto an upstanding arm 16 slotted at 17 to receive a stud 18. The latter supports the upper end of an operating rod 19 the lower end of which may in this instance be slotted as at 20.

The other stud 15 has mounted thereon a shuttle feeler 21 having a downwardly and forwardly inclined surface 22 which is positionedto engage a misplaced shuttle. The shuttle feeler is depressed by means of an upright rod 23 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 preparatory to transfer. Normally said feeler is in the raised position shown in Fig. 1, being held there by the structure shown in Fig. 4. The rod 23 isconnected by an arm 24 to a rock shaft 25 one end of which is secured to a second arm 26. The latter has a stud 27 to pivotally support on the second arm a block 28. A lever 29 pivoted on the magazine frame has a slot 30 through which rm UK the block 28 extends for guidance. A compression spring 31 between the lever 29 and the block tends to move the stud to the end of the slot. This action is limited by a stop screw on the lever which engages the magazine frame. The spring 31 is comparatively strong and acts to hold the shuttle feeler yieldingly in raised position. This construction is the same as that shown in Patent No. 1,030,748 to which reference may be had for further understanding of the magazine.

A cutter blade is pivoted as at 35 to the lower portion of the shuttle feeler and has a rearwardly extending sharpened finger 36. The cutter has an upwardly extending arm 37 provided with a stud 38 extending through the slot 20. A thread clamp 39 is provided to hold the cut thread from being whipped into the shed, and cooperates with one side of the cutter blade to accomplish this result.

The matter thus far described, except for the slot 20 in the lower end of the operating rod 19, may be substantially the same as set forth in the aforesaid Chevret-te patent.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide means for rocking the cutter blade around its axis 35 at an earlier point in the cycle than is possible with the structure thus far described. Accordingly, I provide the shuttle feeler with a guide bearing 40 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and extend therethrough a rod 41 one end of which is connected as at 42 to the arm 37 of the cutter blade. The opposite end of the rod is threaded as at 43 to receive a nut 44 defining with the bearing 40 limits for a compression spring 45 surrounding the rod. An operating finger 46 is held by means of set screw 47 in adjusted position along the rod 41, said set screw permitting both angular and longitudinal adjustment of the finger relatively to the rod. The finger has a rear surface 48 which is preferably vertical when the feeler is in lowered position and extends somewhat below the top of the box back 12. 'The spring 45 tends always to open the cutter blade.

In operation, the parts will normally be disposed as shown in Fig. 1 with the shuttle feeler held raised by the heavy compression spring 31 which is strong enough to compress spring 45. tud 38 will be in the rear end of slot 20. Preparatory to transfer the rod 23 will be lowered, thereby moving the shuttle feeler downwardly, and permitting light spring 45 to swing the cutter around the axis 35 to open position. During this action the stud 38 will engage the upper end of the slot 20, and the rod 19 will follow the feeler downwardly. At the same time, the finger 48 will move toward the lay, which will be in rear position.

As the lay advances with the shuttle properly positioned the box back 12 will engage the finger 48 to move the same from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3.

This rocks the cutter to closed position, moves the stud 38 toward the other end of slot 20, and compresses spring 45. These actions take place while the shuttle feeler is still in lowered position and before the box back engages the inclined surface 22 on the back of the shuttle feeler. The cutting is therefore completed at a point in the pick earlier than would be possible where cutting is made dependent upon rising of the shuttle feeler during the latter part of the forward movement of the lay.

Vhen the cutter closes it cooperates with the clamp 39 to hold the cut thread and this condition must be maintained. As the lay continues to move forwardly the shuttle feeler will be raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, but during this upward movement the depending finger 48 remains in contact with the box back until stud 38 again engages the upper end of the slot. After this happens the light spring 45 is overpowered, and the finger 48 may then safely move out of contact with the box back. The last part of the up motion of the shuttle feeler is completed by the heavy spring 31 which comes into play while the box back is raising the feeler and retaining the finger 48 in clamp holding position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a thread cutter mounted on the shuttle feeler and actuated to cut the filling comparatively early in the advance movement of the lay so that the outgoing bobbin can draw the cut end along with it. Furthermorc, it will be seen that the parts are so related that the upward movement of the shuttle feeler which is initiated by the lay takes place while the finger 48 is in contact with the lay, thereby holding the thread clamp in weft clamping position. This latter condition continues until the relatively strong compression spring 31 comes into play not only to complete the upward movement of the shuttle feeler but also to cooperate with the rod 19 to hold the clamp closed after the finger 48 rises above the lay or box back.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle feeler movable from normal position to shuttle feeling position prior to transfer and arranged to be engaged by the lay and restored to normal position following the transfer, a combined cutter and clamp pivoted to the shuttle feeler, a rod pivotally connected to the cutter and clamp and guided on the shuttle feeler, an operating finger secured to the rod and depending therefrom to have engagement with the lay, and means to open the clamp and to move the operating finger in a direction toward the lay as the shuttle feeler is moved toward shuttle feeling position, said lay engaging the finger to operate the cutter and clamp while the shuttle feeler is still in feeling position, the lay and finger being so proportioned as to have operating contact with each other during movement of the shuttle feeler toward normal position to retain the thread clamp in thread holding position.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle feeler movable from normal.

position to shuttle feeling position prior to transfer and arranged to be engaged by the lay and restored to normal position following the transfer, a combined cutter and clamp pivoted to the shuttle feeler, a rod pivotally connected to the cutter and clamp and guided on the shuttle feeler, an operating finger secured to the rod and depending therefrom to have engagement with the lay, and means comprising a spring connected to the rod, to open the clamp and to move the operating finger in a direction toward the lay as the shuttle feeler is moved toward shuttle feeling position, said lay engaging the finger to operate the cutter and clamp while the shuttle feeler is still in feeling position, the lay and finger being so proportioned as to have operating contact with each other durmg movement of the shuttle feeler toward normal position to retain the thread clamp in thread holding position.

3. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle feeler pivoted above and behind the lay when the latter is in front position and movable from normal position downwardly to shuttle feeling position prior to transfer, a combined cutter and clamp pivotally mounted 011 the shuttle feeler, means on the lay to engage the shuttle feeler and lift the same toward normal position, an operating finger operatively connected to the cutter and clamp, resilient means to open the cutter and clamp and move the finger toward the means on the lay when the shuttle feeler moves to feeling position, and an operating rod connected to a fixed part of the loom and operatively related to the combined cutter and clamp, the lay during its forward movement engaging the finger to close the cutter and clamp prior to engagement with the shuttle feeler and thereafter lifting the lat ter, and the operating rod becoming operative under these conditions to hold the cutter and clamp in closed position against the action of the resilient means as the shuttle feeler assumes normal position.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle feeler pivoted above and behind the lay when the latter is in front position and movable from normal position downwardly to shuttle feeling position prlor to transfer, a combined cutter and clamp pivotally mounted on the shuttle feeler, means on the lay to engage the shuttle feeler and lift the same toward normal position, resilient means tending to open the cutter and clamp, and a pair of operating devices connected to the cutter and clamp, one of said devices to be engaged by the means on the lay prior to engagement thereof with the shuttle feeler to close the cutter and clamp, and the other device becoming thereafter operative to hold the cutter and clamp closed during a portion of the movement of the shuttle feeler to normal position by the means on the lay.

5. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle feeler pivoted above and behind the lay when the latter is in front position and movable from normal position downwardly to shuttle feeling position prior to transfer, a combined cutter and clamp pivotally mounted on the shuttle feeler, means on the lay to engage the shuttle feeler and lift the same toward normal position, resilient means tending to open the cutter and clamp, and a pair of operating devices effective in sucession to have operative relation with the cutter and clamp tending to hold the latter in closed position, the first of said devices b ing engaged by the means prior to moving of the shuttle feeler toward normal position, and the second of said means acting during movement of the shuttle feeler toward normal position by the means on the lay.

6. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle feeler movable from normal to shuttle feeling position prior to transfer, a combined thread cutter and clamp movably mounted on the shuttle feeler from open to closed position, means on the lay to engage the shuttle feeler and move the same from shuttle feeling to normal position, and a pair of operating devices each operatively connected to the combined thread cutter and clamp, said devices operating in succession, the first de vice engaging the means on the lay prior to engagement of said means with the shuttle feeler when the latter is in shuttle feeling position and moving the cutter and clamp from open to closed position, said first device maintaining operative engagement with the means as the shuttle feeler moves toward normal position, and the second operating device becoming operatively related to the combined cutter and clamp after the shuttle feeler has been moved in a direction toward normal position by the means on the lay, said second device effective to hold the cutter and clamp in closed position when the means is out of engagement with the first device In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ANTHONY F. MIFFITT. 

